Quick Overview
A 2010 randomized controlled trial investigated whether adding EMS during strength training increases muscle stimulus. Both groups trained identically for four weeks, except one group received superimposed EMS during each lift. The EMS group showed a larger measured increase in maximal strength, especially after a short recovery period. Sprint speed and jump performance did not clearly improve. The evidence suggests EMS may increase neuromuscular recruitment during lifting, providing additional strength stimulus when properly programmed. It is not a shortcut, but it may enhance strength adaptation under controlled conditions.
Does EMS Add Extra Muscle Stimulus During Lifting?
Our Mission
The ORIEMS FIT Research Digest translates real scientific research into simple language.
We review peer-reviewed university studies and explain what was actually measured.
This article is educational only.
It is not medical advice.
What Did This Study Test?
A 2010 randomized controlled trial examined whether adding EMS during strength training increases muscle stimulus.
Researchers compared:
• Strength training + EMS
• Strength training only
• No training
They measured:
• Maximal strength
• Jump performance
• 20-meter sprint time
Study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research (2010).
Conducted in Spain at the European University Miguel de Cervantes.
Who Participated?
• 28 healthy young male students
• 4 weeks
• 4 sessions per week
• Knee extension at 70% max effort
The EMS group received quadriceps stimulation during each lift (120 Hz, ~60 mA).
What Did They Find?
1️⃣ Strength Increased More With EMS
Both training groups improved.
However, the EMS group showed a larger measured increase in maximal strength, especially after a short recovery period.
This suggests EMS added additional neuromuscular stimulus during lifting.
2️⃣ Explosive Performance Did Not Clearly Improve
Sprint speed and jump performance did not clearly improve.
Strength gains did not automatically transfer to explosive ability.
What Does This Mean?
Under controlled conditions:
• EMS was associated with greater strength adaptation.
• It did not enhance sprinting or jumping.
EMS may increase muscle recruitment during resistance exercise.
It does not replace sport-specific power training.
Balanced Interpretation
This was:
• Small sample size
• Young males only
• Single exercise
• Short duration (4 weeks)
Results may not apply to everyone.
Research Conclusion (Neutral Summary)
Adding EMS during voluntary resistance exercise was associated with greater strength gains compared to training alone, but did not clearly improve sprint or jump performance in this population.
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Disclaimer
This content is for educational purposes only.
It is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
ORIEMS FIT does not claim to cure, prevent, or treat any disease.
Consult a qualified health professional before using EMS if you have medical conditions, implanted devices, are pregnant, or have recent surgery.
Individual responses vary.
ORIEMS FIT Research Digest makes complex research from top scientists and universities easy for anyone to understand—clear, simple, and never medical advice, just trustworthy science.
Interested in a certain topic? Let us know! We'll help you find solid studies and turn them into easy-to-read summaries, always linking to the original source so you can explore further or verify it yourself.
🏆 Voted Year’s Best two years in a row (2024 & 2025).
Click above to check availability.
🔍 How We Source Research Studies
At ORIEMS FIT Research Digest, every study we feature comes directly from peer-reviewed scientific journals, not social media or secondary websites.
Here’s how the process works:
-
Global Database Access
We search through respected scientific databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Taylor & Francis, MDPI, Frontiers, and Google Scholar — including university-hosted repositories. -
Peer-Reviewed Journals Only
Each paper we select must come from recognized academic journals indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, or PubMed, ensuring the research has passed expert review. -
Verification and Citation
Every article is read in full — not just the abstract — and we verify:-
the authors’ institutions (universities, hospitals, or research institutes),
-
the publication year,
-
and the journal’s credibility.
We always include journal names, volume numbers, and DOI or reference links at the end of every digest.
-
-
Simplified, Not Altered
We rewrite the findings in simple, clear language — especially for readers aged 14 to 80 — but the data, results, and scientific integrity remain untouched. -
Continuous Updates
Our library grows weekly with new papers from Australia, Europe, Asia, and North America, highlighting only verified studies on EMS, FES, and natural healing mechanisms.
🧠 Our Mission
To make cutting-edge science understandable for everyone — without losing the facts or exaggerating the claims.
ORIEMS FIT Research Digest makes complex research from top scientists and universities easy for anyone to understand—clear, simple, and never medical advice, just trustworthy science.
Interested in a certain topic? Let us know! We'll help you find solid studies and turn them into easy-to-read summaries, always linking to the original source so you can explore further or verify it yourself.
🏆 Voted Year’s Best two years in a row (2024 & 2025).
Click above to check availability.
🔍 How We Source Research Studies
At ORIEMS FIT Research Digest, every study we feature comes directly from peer-reviewed scientific journals, not social media or secondary websites.
Here’s how the process works:
-
Global Database Access
We search through respected scientific databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Taylor & Francis, MDPI, Frontiers, and Google Scholar — including university-hosted repositories. -
Peer-Reviewed Journals Only
Each paper we select must come from recognized academic journals indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, or PubMed, ensuring the research has passed expert review. -
Verification and Citation
Every article is read in full — not just the abstract — and we verify:-
the authors’ institutions (universities, hospitals, or research institutes),
-
the publication year,
-
and the journal’s credibility.
We always include journal names, volume numbers, and DOI or reference links at the end of every digest.
-
-
Simplified, Not Altered
We rewrite the findings in simple, clear language — especially for readers aged 14 to 80 — but the data, results, and scientific integrity remain untouched. -
Continuous Updates
Our library grows weekly with new papers from Australia, Europe, Asia, and North America, highlighting only verified studies on EMS, FES, and natural healing mechanisms.
🧠 Our Mission
To make cutting-edge science understandable for everyone — without losing the facts or exaggerating the claims.
